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[modeled on this well-posed and highly ranked meta over at WB.SE]


We've got some answers that've really gone above-and-beyond in answering rigorously and completely some superlative questions. And by "superlative" I don't mean that the questions are excellent, I just mean that they contain superlatives. Like "what's the most I can carry?" or "what's the highest fall I can survive?"

Some might call these "cheese." If so, they are the finest cheeses, to be enjoyed on the back porch on a cool summer night. Let's start a cheese club, stackizens! Please answer by linking a single post that you find the cheesiest, the best-explained augmentum ad absurdum you've seen come grace these pages.

Keep to these simple rules:

  • one submission per user [that rule was present in the WB version; doesn't seem necessary here]
  • each post only once
  • include a few words explaining what you like so much about this particular post

If your favorite post is already mentioned, upvote that and submit your second-favorite.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ So, for the purpose of this post, 'cheese' means argumentum ad absurdum, yes? e.g. the classic proof that 2^(1/2) is irrational? Just checking that the stuff you are talking about in the first paragraph is referring exclusively to frame challenges to such questions that seek to show something by argumentum ad absurdum rather than rigorous factual answers like rpg.stackexchange.com/a/93911/22566 \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jun 20, 2017 at 17:20
  • \$\begingroup\$ That is to say, we are looking for answers which best show by following a set of premises to their logical extension that the set of premises must be false, yes? \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jun 20, 2017 at 17:22
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    \$\begingroup\$ @thedark: I don't have a hard-and-fast "cheese" definition in mind. Honestly, I was kinda curious if compiling a list like this might make it a little clearer what people mean when they use the term! \$\endgroup\$
    – nitsua60 Mod
    Commented Jun 20, 2017 at 18:22
  • \$\begingroup\$ Ah. In my experience, the term is used pejoratively to edically denigrate rpg things, especially but not uniquely specific rule interactions, and by extension to denigrate or occlude the existence of persons engaging in the use of said material. Generally, it is used against others the user wishes to discredit as part of a general approach towards personal assumption of a group's ability to assign authenticity to knowledge, but it is increasingly used self-degradatively to disclaim statements, identities, and positions preemptively in order to forestall the aforementioned offensive use. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jun 20, 2017 at 19:55
  • \$\begingroup\$ I'm mentioning this because I think that people who see the term as strongly perjoratative are unlike to post answers to this question, so your understanding of the meaning will be quite biased towards those persons who are of the self-degradation-as-protection camp, especially those transitioning to a positive reappropriation of the term. I don't have a problem with positive ethnolinguistic reappropriation, but I think it's important not to obfuscate the history of a term when changing the nature of the discourse in which it is used. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jun 20, 2017 at 20:00
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    \$\begingroup\$ I was just hoping to celebrate those answers that seem to go above-and-beyond when it comes to showing what the ramifications of a houserule/interaction/item might be. Perhaps I've chosen the wrong term.... \$\endgroup\$
    – nitsua60 Mod
    Commented Jun 20, 2017 at 20:58
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    \$\begingroup\$ I took this as a good-faith usage of the word as parody or a joke or as reappropriation, myself. Plus it's fine cheese. 🧀 \$\endgroup\$
    – doppelgreener Mod
    Commented Jun 21, 2017 at 10:13
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    \$\begingroup\$ @nitsua60 You chose the term perfectly. Those who wish to take offense will, and there is no stopping them. (I am not referring to TDW, but he mentions a group of folks who might). English is a high context language in many respects. Think about two usages of a single word with separate meanings. I get a free six pack of Stella from a friend. With joy, I say "Nice!" Next morning, I discover that all six of them are mostly empty (backwash in the bottom) on the kitchen counter. I look to my son, who belches Stella breath and tries to look innocent. I exclaim "Nice!" in a different tone. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jun 21, 2017 at 19:44
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    \$\begingroup\$ @thedarkwanderer to answer your question regarding we are looking for answers which best show by following a set of premises to their logical extension that the set of premises must be false I respond with No. The point is more closely described as the efforts taken to explore the absurd, and absurdities, which can arise when combining various game features to arrive at absurd/non linear outcomes. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jun 22, 2017 at 19:32
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    \$\begingroup\$ When is a shield both good for AC bonus and attacks? When it's Schroedinger's shield! \$\endgroup\$
    – NotArch
    Commented Apr 5, 2018 at 18:29
  • \$\begingroup\$ This meta list seems related to the tag powergaming. \$\endgroup\$
    – Cœur
    Commented Jun 7, 2019 at 3:00
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    \$\begingroup\$ I've edited lots of the answers here to make them clearly state the question being referenced. I think we got a bit carried away simply waxing lyrical about cheese, to the point most answers here give nobody any idea what the actual post they're being linked to is about, and nobody can check whether the thing they found funny was already linked. I implore people please actually describe the posts they're linking, not just make obscure allusions about cheese. Please take care to curdle the joke well. \$\endgroup\$
    – doppelgreener Mod
    Commented Feb 12, 2020 at 20:07
  • \$\begingroup\$ Seems like it would be a good idea to mention the system at the top of every post as a rule, for all the same reasons we use system tags on main. Could someone edit? (Even though this list seems to be 100% various versions of DnD.) \$\endgroup\$
    – Laurel
    Commented Jul 25, 2020 at 1:25

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The virtuous necromancer only uses the highest quality milk for this ethically produced state of the art cheese with a special filling encased through rigorous technique and perfect sealing, if a farmer doesn't meet the quality standards they are still 100% recyclable! Such a contribution to the circle of life and, mhm, the squishy crunch, exalting.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Ooh, I forgot to upvote your cheese entry. Thanks for adding that one! :) \$\endgroup\$ Commented Aug 5, 2019 at 20:54
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Hiding from a Nosy Deity while eating cheese

What is the highest total result one can get for a skill check?

David Coffron has shown how a much spied upon Hobgoblin can get away from the never ending gaze of the fiery eyes of Maglubiyet, and eat his cheese in privacy.

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How does Find Familiar work with a Ring of Spell Storing?

Let's store some sentient cheese spirits for someone who doesn't work on a dairy farm. Perhaps leaving it in the cheese storing freezer would work.

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This one leaps out as being gouda 'nough for this list

What is the longest distance a player character can jump in one leap?

Couldn't choose any one answer as the whole post is a churning vat of cheesy goodness.

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This cheese is Swiss Cheese, because it makes things full of holes.

And I made it myself!

Is this spell/item interaction as infinite (and potentially deadly) as I think it is?

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Here is a very mild baked brie: Can you Awaken a Raven Queen-patron warlock's sentinel raven?

It's got a nice blend of poor or incomplete/not fully baked wording from Unearthed Arcana that allows a class feature to be more powerful than likely intended.

This cheese may not have fully melted when served.

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Physicists don't always make the best cheese, but it doesn't mean they can't try!

Can you throw a hand axe upwards over a wall and into a group of enemies?

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Can a 17th level sorcerer kill all demons with Simulacrum and Wish?

The Camembert might be a bit too runny, but at least it's served with Cantor dusting:

When trying to perform genocide on an infinity, it's always important to remember the cardinality classes, as otherwise ones fine cheese-serving might get interrupted by an infinity of angry demons.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ I haven't even read the linked question, but have my +1 for "with Cantor dusting." Or +aleph_0. I never know! \$\endgroup\$
    – nitsua60 Mod
    Commented Jan 30, 2020 at 14:29
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I submit this answer for consideration as it allows you to make a block of cheese out of an unbounded number of Simulacra.

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Activating an Immovable Rod at a distance?

This is self professed cheese to address that most desirous of props, the Immovable Rod, and its activation "at a distance."

Unfortunately, I can only add cheesy ideas where if I were DM, I'd have a hard time allowing.

While not a serving of camembert, VelveetaTM is good for hot queso dip during football season.

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When you try to make cheese, but end up with some kind of weird custard instead

Can I use the Cap of Water Breathing or the Cloak of the Manta Ray to survive inside a Bag of Holding?

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